More than 11,000 beneficiaries to receive ROOFS grants over next two weeks
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More than 11,000 beneficiaries are expected to receive grants under the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) programme over the next two weeks.
The update was given by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr., during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in St Andrew.
It follows Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’ announcement of an additional $9.65-billion allocation to complete payments to qualified beneficiaries whose homes were damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28 last year.
A total of 106,350 beneficiaries were assessed as eligible to receive support in the minor, major, and severe damage categories.
Charles Jr. noted that, so far, more than 49,000 beneficiaries have been served through the ROOFS programme.
The Minister stated that once the additional allocation is received, the Ministry “will be able to provide support to more than 11,000 payment-ready cases and thousands more that we expect to be completed within the next week to two weeks”.
He noted that these projections are in line with the Prime Minister’s instructions for payouts to be made to at least 90 per cent of the remaining households before the end of 2026.
In this regard, Charles Jr. said the Ministry will be intensifying its work with Members of Parliament and community leaders to identify eligible heads of households who have not yet received their grants.
He pointed out that approximately three to four per cent of beneficiaries approved for payouts under phase one of the programme have not yet received the grants, because the Ministry could not locate or contact them.
The Minister urged these persons to make contact with the Ministry or their Members of Parliament so they can receive their grants.
He shared that teams from the Ministry will be at the Darliston Baptist Church in Westmoreland and the Lacovia Community Centre in St Elizabeth today to assist residents who need consultations, document checks and case-status updates.
- JIS News
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